I'm back... Hoorar

[Dee]

Thank you hun

[formerly known as hf]

well, i don't speack french fluently, but i at least can ask them if they speak English.

Get used to the word "Non!" Most Parisians speak English. Most will not, however, speak it to Ugly Americans who ask them if they speak English.

I don't necessarily think they say that because they are snooty or rude, but rather for the same reason I don't say I can speak French when talking to a French person-- however good I might be, my French is not up to the same level as a native.

Oh - they do - and rightly so - It'd annoy me the way so many American and British tourists seem to assume that everyone, everywhere else will understand and speak English...

Or that if they didn't understand it at first, than saying the same thing, but.. louder... will work... :/

Usually, just learning a few phrases (NOT just "Voo Parls English? sieve voo plays?") will endear you to anyone who speaks another language - I guess it's gratifying to see someone at least trying...

[Floyd]

The English do seem to be particuarly ignorant of Foreign (Snake_Byte, My spelling hero!) Languages, I met some polish kids the other day, same age as myself, who could speak near enough fluent English. I took Spanish for five years and i can barely string a half complicated sentance together!

Oh My...

[Snake_byte]

*Foreign

English is ONE of the easiest languages to learn... Though some may disagree I think that French, Spanish and Chinese or Japanese would be harder to learn.
I've been using French since I was 3 and still don't have it down right...
I also heard that German is an easy language to learn.

[Surly]

There is absolutely no way that Spanish and French are even in the same league of difficulty as Japanese and Chinese.

And I think French and Spanish are just as easy to learn as English if you are submerged in them. But spoken languages is not my thing... I have far more interest in history, maths or even science.

[Schme]

I see.

Ever the friendly one

How kind of you to say.

By the way, I love how you use pre-made animations to convey your emotions. Very original.

[wichita]

Agreed Spanish is incredibly simple, and the most difficult part of French IMHO is the spelling...which, come on! Were they just looking for some practical use for the letter x? Why stick it on everything?

For the longest time I thought that faux paux was a hockey hazing ritual.

Chinese and Japenese are so much fun, I have looked at more Chinese. I love the grammar, or lack thereof, in Mandarin Chinese but as a Westerner of course the whole tonality thing is a bit overwhelming at the moment. It is fun to start pronunciation debates between the Taiwanese and mainland Chinese in my lab when I am trying to practice at work.

I think the distinction between simple and complex language depends on your frame of reference though. I think it is much easier for an English speaker to pick up Spanish that for a Chinese person, for instance, but each of the languages has its own simplicities and difficulties.

[the_antisocial_hermit]

For the longest time I thought that faux paux was a hockey hazing ritual.

Yes, Spanish and French are incredibly easy... Spanish I can do relatively fine; and French, I can usually pick out at least part of what's being said though I've never had more than one semester of basic French. Perhaps it's all the years of Spanish I've had that make it easier.

[Floyd]

I see.

Ever the friendly one

How kind of you to say.

By the way, I love how you use pre-made animations to convey your emotions. Very original.

Yes, it's bizzare isn't it? Gosh.. did you ever think that maybe thats what they are in fact there for? Dangerous thinking i know.. But just consider it...

[Debsy]

Welcome back!! It's about time..

[Floyd]

Well Cantriffic day number two, two of my charries turned thirty and two of thier friends died... and i'm safely hooked again...

[Dee]

I believe Japanese is the hardest language in the world. Arabic is second hardest language in the world. It's a fact.

[Sunni Daez]

Well Cantriffic day number two, two of my charries turned thirty and two of thier friends died... and i'm safely hooked again...

[Surly]

It's an opinion.

Scientific "facts" of that kind are always disputed by others with facts that disprove it.

Therefore, it is an opinion. Maybe an opinion based on flawless science and logic (and one I happen to agree with) but still only an opinion.

Sorry, I get surly when people say "It's a fact" like that.

How'd have guessed?

[Dee]

Sorry, I get surly when people say "It's a fact" like that.

This is funny, because before I read this line, I was thinking to myself, "Gosh, you are surly!"

LOL!